| Could Alzheimer's or epilepsy drugs prevent migraines, too?
|
Prof. Peter Goadsby
New
drugs: the
past 10 years have seen huge shifts in migraine drug therapy for
adults. In the early Nineties, most patients took preventative drugs,
such as beta blockers, even though the drugs were successful for only
half of those who took them. The other half took acute rescue drugs,
including ergotamine and painkillers containing codeine. These days,
many patients have switched to triptans, among them Imigran and
Zomig. However, a truly effective preventative drug is urgently
needed and some surprising ones are being tested.
Aricept:
in a major international study, hundreds of migraine patients are to
test Aricept, the first drug used to treat early symptoms of
Alzheimer's. It is believed the drug's action in the brain might also
help to prevent or reduce the severity of migraines. But Prof Goadsby
is sceptical: "I have seen no positive evidence."
Botox:
the idea is that injections in the neck, shoulder and forehead may
relieve spasm-like activity - a possible migraine trigger. Dr Dowson,
who is leading a European study, says: "It will take a year for
a definitive answer."
Topamax:
this anti-convulsant drug, used to treat epilepsy, is "showing
promise as a migraine preventive", says Prof Goadsby. The
results will be presented at the Migraine Trust's international
symposium this month.
Gene
studies:
some 90 per cent of sufferers inherit the condition, and the search
is on for migraine genes. Prof Goadsby and colleagues are studying a
British family of 30 migraine sufferers spanning five generations.
They possess a gene mutation which causes a specific kind of migraine
that is accompanied by unsteadiness - ataxia. "We can track the
gene's effect on the brain during an attack. This might lead to
improved diagnosis and treatments."
Prof
Goadsby would like to hear from other families with a similar history
of migraine. Write to: Prof Peter Goadsby, Institute of Neurology,
Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG.
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